Healthy Granola Recipe

Happy Saturday everyone!

I’ve always been a healthy eater, aside from my chocolate addition… but hey no ones perfect!

I do however have a tendency to start following a recipe before checking if I have the correct ingredients… which I never do. So I substitute them which NEVER ends well, except for today! So I thought I would share my recipe, this is SO simple, if I can pull it off anyone can!

Honestly Healthy’s Granola – Modified
Serves 4 apparently (No chance. I’m eating this all myself thanks very much)

Ingredients

50g dates

100g oats (I used Quakers wholegrain rolled oats)

2 tbsp Agave syrup

90g nuts (I used almonds, as thats all I had!)

3 tbs coconut oil (It does say use olive oil) Mines more clumpy using coconut oil, but I like it that way!

You can also add 15g seeds of your choice, I again didn’t have any…lolz.

Method

Preheat the oven to 160°C / 325°F / Gas mark 3.

Simmer the dates in 1cm of water (I just threw a little in until they were just covered) wait until they are soft and squishy then blend until you have a smooth paste. Stir in the rest of your ingredients and mix it up. 

Place baking paper onto a flat baking tray and spread out the mixture as evenly as possible.

Bake for 15 mins until golden, then reduce the oven temperature to 110°C and bake for a further 30 mins. HOWEVER I wanted mine to be more crunchy so it ended up in there for around an hour, with me checking it and setting alarms so I didn’t forget about it!

I added a big handful of dried raisins when cooked and it turned out delicious! I enjoyed a big bowl with almond milk for breakfast this morning.

Love Em xo

 

 

Getting motivated & finding your fitness style

Learning to love fitness 

Personally, I am not a fan of the gym. I struggle to motivate myself to go alone and find the whole thing quite daunting. The amount of people, the atmosphere, the equipment, ahhh.

But I LOVE the feeling after a workout! The spring in your step, ‘I can take on the world’ euphoric vibe your body radiates afterwards.

So I found a variety of working out styles that I love which do not involve going to a gym, thank God.  They are also a good way to build up your fitness level and switch your routine up.

Swimming is my go to, it’s not as gruelling, is gentle on your joints and I love water. However the hassle of getting changed, being cold and drying my ridiculously thick, giant hair makes it not a regular occurrence.

I’m also not a good runner, at all. Picture Phoebe from Friends. So one day turned to Youtube for some inspiration and couldn’t believe the amount of fitness tutorials and workouts you can do for free!

HIIT 

A way to seriously boost and switch up your cardio. I am a big fan of HIIT (high intensity interval training) you can do this anywhere, your living room, bedroom, garden, local park, you name it. And it burns fat fast.  Consisting of short bursts of high energy movements followed by a short recovery. This shortens your workout time drastically. Getting it over and done with. Can I get a hell yeaaa.

Pilates with a twist 

Have you heard of Blogilates? If not thank me later. Cassey is an amazing fitness instructor who provides FREE workout calenders with fun, high energy videos to follow. I have followed her for the past five years, and can honestly say her videos make such a difference to my body. These are great for raining days and home fitness, check them out, they are KILLER. and all free.

Barre 

I stumbled across Barre fitness videos on Youtube, and fell in love. You can attend classes but they all seem to be in London and a tad pricey. It’s dance/ballet inspired and works your whole body, improving posture, strengthening your core and toning your legs. You can also do this at home replacing the Bar with a high backed chair.

Gym Classes 

It’s very important your posture and form is correct whilst working out so you don’t do any damage, classes ensure this and are a good way to get motivated. Aerobics, Body Attack and Body Combat all involve loud music and realising how bad you are at keeping rhythm! Hilarious and hard work which makes time fly, always a bonus.

Yoga 

I have taken part in Yoga classes but find it more comfortable and relaxing at home. It’s a great way to improve flexibility and strengthen your muscles. A perfect way to end your day and stretch out your muscles after a workout.

I hope this has inspired you to try something new, let me know your favourite workouts!

Em xo

Weekend detox

This morning I woke up craving water.  Not to drink, but to just be in… does that happen to anyone else?! I think I was a dolphin or fish in a past life.

So I dropped Ben off at work. Boo for Sunday working hours, who made that a thing. And ventured off to my parents house to dive into their hot tub! Pure bliss.

I find water so calming and refreshing, especially when the sun is shining like today. It helped me imagine I was away on holiday after seeing Maldives pictures on Instagram this morning. Sigh.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend.

Em xo

Plants & sunny mornings

Excuse my excitement but today England had over three hours of sunshine. We all lost our cool.

I wore shorts. That is until I realised it’s actually April and only 22 degrees, opened my front door, shivered and ran back inside.

Sunshine makes everything better and I thought I’d share my happy looking front door area, featuring plants that I’ve somehow kept alive!

The Moss adds character….

Happy weekend everyone!

Em xo

Ultimate relaxation routine

So it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month or even your year… sorry.

After a stressful day, or during a night in alone, it’s important to learn how to enjoy your own company. I like to treat myself to a little spa like retreat without going anywhere. Yep I know, nailing it. Here’s my check-list for the best night in, now go pamper yourself, you deserve it!

1. Chocolate pit stop, because duh. Have a healthy(ish) dinner, no takeaways! They only leave you feeling greasy and regretful, no thankaaayou.

2. Run your bath, adding bubbles and oils. Set out your dressing gown, favourite clean pyjamas and body lotion. Side note, invest in a luxury, fluffy, cloud-like dressing gown, and Victoria secret pjs, they are SO worth it. You deserve to feel like a goddess. And boy do these deliver.

4. Take of all your make up, get it OFF. I use Garnier’s Micellar water, it’s gentle, powerful and refreshing. Light candles in your bathroom and one in your bedroom, this way you leave one relaxing room and enter another, heaven!

5. Once your bath is ready add a bath bomb or salts, FYI any Lush bath bomb is guaranteed to brighten your day. Take pictures coz we all do, no shame here. Enjoy the view for a while then turn the lights of and dive in! (not literally, that would be messy. Mess = not relaxing)

6. Close your eyes and think about things that make you happy and you are grateful for. Just focus on your breathing and let your stresses go.

7. I always then shave, because nothing makes you feel like you can take on the world than smooth legs, guaranteed maximum fabulousness. Smooth legs against soft pjs and bedding is my favourite feeling. Sod washing your hair, that takes forever and the drying is non-relaxing so skip that till tomorrow. Instead watch an episode or two of your favourite series, New Girl is my current go-to!

7. Once relaxed and out of the bath, slap on a nice moisturiser, for ultimate comfort no knickers under pj’s are a must for me. No wedgies here. Your welcome.

8. Turn your phone on silent, apply hand cream then get settled on the sofa or in bed and put on a good film/series with your chocolate stash.

9. Don’t stay up too late, get a good eight hours sleep to wake up feeling refreshed and sparkling!

Writing this has made me seriously crave a pamper night in. Guaranteed to make you feel confident and ready to take on ANYTHING.

Love Em xo